In a hurry to use miso paste in your favorite recipe?
This traditional Japanese seasoning might be hard to find in your country, but it’s possible to find alternatives. Find out 5 best options to substitute miso in this post and use it right away!
What is Miso?
Miso paste is a fermented Japanese seasoning made of soybeans, koji, and salt. Many people love miso paste for its mellow, rich, and deeply savory flavor. The taste is almost magical to easily add umami into dishes. Perfect seasoning to make miso soups, marinades, glazes, or sauces.
Not only delicious, but miso is also highly favored for its health benefits. This nutritious ingredient is rich in proteins, vitamins, enzymes, and dietary fibers that are good for health.
The most common type of miso is white miso (shiro miso) and red miso (aka miso). White miso is more mild and sweet. Meanwhile, red miso has a deep richness with more savory notes. However, you can find various types of miso based on their ingredients, color, manufacturing method, etc.
5 Miso Substitutes
Find five possible miso paste substitutes below.
1. Soy Sauce
First option that comes to mind to substitute miso paste is Soy Sauce. Soy sauce, or Shoyu in Japanese, is made from fermented soybean like miso paste, so it is similar in terms of the salty, savory, and umami flavor.
Keep in mind that Soy Sauce is watery and saltier. So, some dishes might not work with Soy Sauce if you want to have the creamy consistency from miso paste.
For Soy Sauce’s gluten-free solution, you might consider using Tamari Sauce (100% soybeans).
2. Fish Sauce
Fish Sauce has a similar profile to Soy Sauce in terms of saltiness and umami. In addition, Fish Sauce also has a briny, funky, and tangy flavor that could boost the recipe. Therefore, this ingredient could substitute miso paste well.
However, its taste is stronger than Soy Sauce, so you might want to use it in a smaller amount that goes a long way.
Vegans or vegetarians might want to choose other alternatives because Fish Sauce is made from fermented fish and salt.
3. Tahini
Tahini is a yellow-ish-colored paste made from grounded sesame seeds. This ingredient is often used in Middle East cuisines.
It has a creamy texture and color identical to miso paste, but tahini’s flavor is nuttier and earthier with less umami and savory notes. Tahini could substitute miso well in recipes like sauces and salad dressings.
4. Dashi Stock
Dashi is the traditional Japanese soup stock. It brings strong umami to dishes like miso paste, but dashi can only substitute miso when making soup recipes because of its watery consistency.
The umami of dashi comes from its ingredient. Dashi can be the extract of dried bonito flakes, kombu kelp, dried sardines, shimeji mushrooms, etc. Vegan dashi is also delicious as they are made from dried mushrooms or dried vegetables.
5. Salt
The simplest ingredient to substitute miso paste is salt. Add a bit of salt to your recipes to get the balanced saltiness in seconds.
Please note that salt is only suitable if you only need a small amount of miso paste. Other support ingredients will be needed to get the umami identical to miso.
Best Miso Substitute Tips
Miso tastes distinctively unique, and you can’t copy the exact flavor just by replacing it with one ingredient. To substitute, it’s best to combine soy sauce, salt, and a bit of tahini to make a paste mix.
Another way to substitute is to use dashi and salt when making soup dishes that usually use miso paste.
The combinations above might not work well for all recipes, but let’s consider testing which ingredients is the best to use when swapping miso paste.
If you happen to get the actual miso paste (which is very worth it!), please try to make our recommended miso recipes below.
Delicious Miso Recipe Ideas
It’s always satisfying to try different recipes using miso, at least for me. We like to encourage you to try making these delicious, Japanese-style recipes using miso paste or its substitute by all means!
Frequently Asked Questions
Miso Substitutes Product Recommendations
Miso Paste Product Recommendations
Japanese Miso Paste | USDA & JAS Organic, No MSG, Fermented Soybean with Rice Koji, Additives-Free, Made in Japan by Kawashimaya | 450g (15.8oz)
Traditional-style miso paste, naturally aged for more than 10 months. The premium Japanese miso paste for greater umami in daily recipes. Characterized by a rich and mellow flavor that a natural, old-fashioned fermentation method can only produce. USDA & JAS Organic certified, no MSG, additives-free, gluten-free, and vegan friendly. 100% Made in Japan.
Homemade Miso Recommended Products
The convenient handmade miso kit below will help you to easily make miso at home.
